I smile at her and take a sip. “Wow. That’s good.”
She nods in satisfaction and pulls the glass back, lifting it to her own lips, the gesture intimate. She’s beautiful, and she’s brilliant… but fuck. She isn’t Amara. Amara, who is staring at Kim’s glass as though she’s willing it to shatter.
I slip my hand back into my pocket and increase the vibrations of her toy, distracting her. I regret it the second I see Gregory walking up to us, his eyes on Amara. He looks as enthralled as I am, and I regret putting that blush on her cheeks.
“Sorry I’m late, sweetheart,” he says, leaning in. I tense, a surge of violence rushing through me at the thought of him kissing her. His lips graze her cheek instead of her lips, but that does nothing to settle my instant anger.
He nods at me before turning his attention to Kim. “I can’t believe the three of us are back here, together. When was the last time Amara and I were here? It must’ve been three years ago.” He chuckles and glances at Amara. “Yeah… I vividly remember the last time we were here,” he adds, his tone suggestive. Amara’s eyes widen, and my heart twists painfully. I might have her turned on right now, but he knows her body in ways I don’t. He’s had her in ways I’ll never have her.
“Ugh, don’t remind me. It was so obvious I walked in on you guys,” Kim says, shaking her head. She turns to look at me. “Those two… they’re rabbits, I tell you. If they end up going missing today, don’t go looking for them. You’ll never be able to unsee what you walk in on.”
I force a smile onto my face, pushing down the pain and jealousy. Amara… she isn’t mine. She never will be. These feelings, they’re fucked up.
“Maybe we should reenact that, honey. Scar Kim a little further.” Gregory laughs, and Amara grits her teeth as though she’s biting back her response, her cheeks bright red.
What the fuck am I doing with her? What am I doing? She’s my patient and she’s Harold Astor’s granddaughter.
A man like Gregory… that’s who she’ll end up with. An oil magnate. Someone filthy rich, someone who understands her world. Someone that can maintain the lifestyle she’s used to. Before today I’d never even been to a vineyard. Stuff like this isn’t part of my life and it probably never will be. She might find me interesting now, but the novelty will wear off, and she’ll move on. Meanwhile, I’ll have thrown every opportunity away for her, and I’ll be left with nothing but regrets and memories.
“Excuse me for a minute,” I tell Kim, rising to my feet. I force myself to keep my feelings in check, but I’m failing. My thoughts are spiraling as I make my way to the bathrooms we passed earlier. What the fuck am I even doing?
“Noah.”
I pause at the sound of her voice and turn toward her. Amara is standing next to one of the trees, and I walk over to her, anger coursing through my veins. She takes a step back, until she’s pressed against the tree behind her.
“Rabbits, huh?” I say through gritted teeth, my hand wrapping around the back of her neck, my thumb resting against her throat.
“He never should have said that. He’s purposely being a dick,” she tells me, her gaze pleading.
“He knows your body in ways I never will. Your pussy is dripping wet for me, yet I don’t know how it feels wrapped around my cock. He does. Tell me, is it his name you used to moan? Did you come for him the way you do for me?”
She shakes her head, her eyes blazing with desperation and sincerity. “Never, Noah. Not once. I swear. I’ve never come for him the way I do for you. It’s why I create the toys. No man has ever made me…”
I stare at her and pull my hand up until my thumb traces over her lips. That pretty little mouth of hers falls open, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.
“Has he ever had your mouth?”
She shakes her head, her eyes wide. “The thought never appealed to me. Not with him.”
I pull her around the tree so we’re both out of view. “Get on your knees,” I tell her, leaning back against the tree.
Amara’s cheeks turn crimson as she does as I say, pulling her white dress up before kneeling in front of me. Her eyes drop to my trousers and I bite back a moan when she unbuckles my belt. I want her so fucking badly.
I slide my hand into my pocket to grab the remote just seconds before she pulls my jeans down, taking my boxer shorts right along with it. Her movements are impatient, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“Look at you, princess. Fucking look at you, on your knees in the middle of a vineyard, and there’s nowhere else you’d rather be, huh?”
Amara smiles at me as she grabs my cock, her grip tight. My eyes fall closed at her touch. “Fuck,” I groan.
Amara chuckles, and when I glance down, I find her looking at me. Her eyes never leave mine as she brings her lips closer, taking her time, teasing me.
I smirk as I increase the vibrations of her toy, enjoying the way her expression changes instantly. “None of this bullshit, Amara,” I warn her. “Suck my cock like the good girl you are.”
Her lips close around me and I moan, unable to keep quiet. Her mouth is so fucking hot and tight. I watch her as she takes me in deeper and I bury a hand in her hair, fisting it tightly as her head moves up and down.
“I’ll make you come while you’re choking on my cock,” I tell her, pulling her head closer, until I hit the back of her throat. I expected her to choke, but she takes it eagerly. I almost fucking come when she swallows, the sensation foreign on my cock.
I fiddle with the remote control she gave me, barely able to focus when she sucks me off this good. She moans when I increase the pressure on her clit, and the vibrations of her voice take me right to the edge.
I grab her head and hold her still as I thrust in and out of her mouth, quickening the pace. “Look at you, baby. Look at you taking my cock. You’re such a good fucking girl, aren’t you?”
She moans, her eyes glazed over with lust. The way she tangles her tongue around my cock, keeping me under her control even when I try to take it away from her… fucking unreal.
Her moans get louder, and I barely hold on as her eyes fall closed, her body swaying as her orgasm rushes through her. I pull out of her mouth just in time, making a mess of her face and dress.
Amara lifts her hand to her face, her fingers tracing over the liquid staining her skin. She rises to her feet with a smile on her face. I reach for her, pulling her dress up and using the edges to clean her up with.
“You’re going to walk around like that, baby, with your clothes stained, reminding you of who the fuck you belong to.”
She nods, and I lean in, pulling her toward me roughly. I kiss her, pouring every trace of lingering anger into it. She’s breathless by the time I pull away, and I smile. “Your mouth is mine, princess.” I reach down and pull her dress up, my hand finding its way between her legs. I push her toy in deeper, wishing I could replace it with my fingers. “This pussy is too, you hear me?”
“Yes, Noah,” she says, her eyes still filled with desire. “But you’d better remember it too. Don’t even dream of flirting with Kim if you want any more of this.”
I smile at her, loving this side of her. I had her on her knees just a few minutes ago, and she’s already putting me back in my place. This girl… I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of her.
Chapter 22
Amara
I’m trembling as Noah leads me back to the clearing, desperate for him. The toy isn’t enough. I want him deep inside me. I want him close, his body on mine. I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want him, and he doesn’t even seem to realize it. He has nothing to worry about with Gregory. Nothing at all. I wish I could make him see that.
Kim looks up at me when she spots us, her gaze questioning. I can’t help but smirk, and the jealousy I see in her eyes gives me a strange sense of satisfaction. It’s odd, because the feeling is at war with the guilt I simultaneously feel. I’ve never been possessive, but it’s different with Noah. I’ll take any opportunity I can get to
make it clear he’s off-limits to her, even when I know better. It’s irrational, and it’s crazy, but I can’t help it.
My entire body feels sensitive as I sit down next to Gregory. Noah made me come so hard that I can barely even take the subtle vibrations he kept on. The way he held my head as he thrust into my mouth, the anger in his eyes, the danger he radiated. I want more of it. I’m so tempted to provoke him further, to make him lose control again. I want more of the man he keeps hidden from the world.
“Where were you?”
I turn to Gregory and sigh. “Got lost,” I lie. “The bathrooms weren’t where they were years ago, and this place is a maze.”
He glances at Noah and then back at me, and I smile sweetly. I might want to mess with Noah, but never at the expense of his future. I don’t trust Gregory, and there’s no way I’m putting Noah at risk.
“Yeah, it is a bit of a maze, isn’t it?”
I nod and lean back as he wraps his arm around the back of my chair. My eyes meet Noah’s and the look in his eyes has me clenching my thighs. He looks angry, seeing me sitting here with Greg, and Noah angry is a sight to behold. I glance down and grab my phone to send him a text.
Amara: you’re sexy when you’re jealous. I’m tempted to provoke you further.
Noah blinks in surprise when his phone buzzes, and the edges of his lips turn up into a reluctant smile when he sees my message.
Noah: baby, I strongly advise against that. I’m a doctor. I can think of at least twelve ways to permanently injure your little boyfriend and make it look like an accident.
I smile as I put my phone away, even more turned on than I was before. I’m used to powerful men, but Noah is different. I doubt his threats are empty, yet he doesn’t scare me in the slightest. On the contrary, he makes me feel safer than anyone else ever has.
“So, you’re a doctor, aren’t you? You work for the Astors?” Greg says, an irritatingly smug smile on his face.
Noah nods and smiles back, holding his gaze. It’s subtle, but I notice the way Greg tenses. Noah puts him on edge, and it isn’t just because of me. “I do,” he says simply.
Greg clenches his jaw, clearly irritated that he didn’t get more of a response from Noah.
“How nice of the Astors to treat you so well. I’m not surprised, though. They’re prone to taking on charity cases.”
I’ve never thought highly of Greg, and I only ever dated him because my grandfather pushed us together. It seems like the small amount of respect I had for him was misplaced, though. My opinion of him is sinking by the second.
Noah smiles relaxedly. “Indeed. It’s incredibly nice of them. What about you? What do you do?”
Greg relaxes, thinking he’s got the upper hand, but he’s wrong. He’s missing the angry glint hidden in Noah’s eyes, the clenched jaw despite his smile.
“I’m the COO of Zilium Oil,” he says proudly. “It’s one of the largest oil companies in the country.”
Noah nods and smiles. “How nice that your daddy gave you a job. Being charitable must be a rich people trait.” He says it so calmly and with such seriousness that it takes Greg a few seconds to realize what he said, and I bite back a smile.
I can see Greg struggling to come up with a retort and failing. No one has ever been rude to his face, and seeing his incredulous expression is priceless.
Noah takes a leisurely sip of his wine, dismissing Greg without a second thought, and my heart swells with pride. I’ve been worried about this trip, about Noah feeling out of his depth, but he’s handling himself just fine. I should’ve known he would.
Kim leans into him under the guise of asking about the wine, her chest grazing against Noah’s arm, and all my amusement drains away. Noah looks up, his eyes meeting mine, and something in his expression puts me at ease.
“He’s going to pay for that,” Greg murmurs, leaning into me. I tear my eyes away from Noah to look at Greg and shake my head.
“No. He won’t. My grandfather adores him, and so does my mother. Grandpa is grooming him to take over an entire division of Astor Inc. If anything, Grandpa would just love him more for the way he carries himself.”
I jump when the vibrations of my toy increase suddenly and glance at Noah, but he’s looking at Kim, a serious expression on his face as he listens to her talk about the way her wine is made. I smile as I turn back to Greg. So Noah doesn’t like me speaking to him, huh?
I love seeing him jealous. I know Noah isn’t mine, but when he acts this way it feels like he is. It feels like he cares, like this is more than just lust.
“He’s still nothing but a little worker bee. Keep that in mind, Amara. Your grandfather might want to use him for his potential, but that doesn’t make him one of us. He’ll never be one of us. I see the way you keep looking at him. Play with the help all you want, but a man like him can’t provide for you. A man like me can.”
I’m speechless for just a moment, and then I burst out laughing. “Greg,” I say, my voice soft. “I don’t need a man to provide for me. I need someone that respects me, that’ll put me first. Someone that can make me laugh with him — not at him. I need someone that understands me and that supports my dreams and ambitions. Someone that will grow with me. A man like you will never be what I want.”
He grits his teeth, a humorless smile on his face. “I might not be what you want right now, but you’ll want me, Amara. You’ll need me, and you’ll come begging for another chance.”
I smile at him, thoroughly amused. “You’re insane. I’ve bitten my tongue for weeks now, purely out of respect for the relationship your father has with my grandfather. Don’t push me, Gregory. You won’t like the consequences.”
Greg crosses his arms over each other and stares me down. “You might be an Astor, but you’re nothing without your grandfather. You’ll learn your place eventually. I can be patient, Amara. For you, I will be.”
“This is exactly why you’ll never have me. The type of man that I’d choose to be with would help me stand on my own two feet, instead of counting on my reliance on him. You don’t get it, Greg, and you never will. Because of that, you’ll never have me. You never did.”
I rise to my feet, needing a bit of space. “I think I’ve had a bit too much sun,” I murmur.
Noah looks up at me and nods as he gets up. “I’ll drive you home. I’m fully booked tomorrow, so I need to get back anyway.”
I nod and thank Kim in a rush, walking away before Greg can insist that he drive me back himself. I can’t stand to be in his presence for another second.
I hear Noah rush after me, and I exhale in relief when he falls into step at my side. “What did he say?” he asks, his tone tense.
I glance up at him, wondering what to say. I decide on the truth. “That I’ll end up back with him. That he’ll wait for me while I’m ‘messing around with the help’ or something like that.”
Noah grimaces as he opens the car door for me, and I can’t help but wonder if I should’ve just kept that conversation to myself. He seems tired as he gets behind the wheel, or maybe that isn’t even the right word. He’s weary.
“Is that what you’re doing?” he asks, keeping his eyes on the road as we drive out of the massive estate.
“No. God no. Of course not,” I say, the words tumbling out of my mouth in a rush.
Noah glances at me briefly and sighs. “He’s not wrong. With me you’d never have the life you live right now. Even if we both worked our asses off, I doubt we’d ever be this rich.” He runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head. “What am I even saying? We? There is no we.”
I stare at him, my heart twisting painfully. “I… Noah, I don’t need any of this. I grew up without it, and I can do without it.”
He looks at me and shakes his head. “Your grandfather is offering me the opportunity of a lifetime, Amara. What you and I are doing… it’s stupid. I admit that I want you. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone else, but you and I can’t happen. We’re already taki
ng it too far, and you know it.”
I nod and stare out the window. “I know, Noah. I can’t help it. I can’t stay away. I’ve never felt this way before. I know what’s at risk. Trust me, I know. Despite that, I just can’t help myself.”
He tightens his grip on the wheel and nods. “Me too, baby,” he murmurs. “But we need to stop before this gets out of hand. Today… the way I touched you. Fuck. Do you know what your grandfather would do to me if he ever found out? We have to stop.”
I bite down on my lip and look down at my lap. I’d single-handedly destroy Noah’s future if we keep doing this. “I know,” I whisper, wishing there was another way and knowing that there isn’t.
Chapter 23
Amara
“You’ve been quiet and absentminded all week. What’s wrong, babe?” Leia asks.
I hesitate before answering her. “Noah has been avoiding me since that day at the vineyard. I’ve been to his clinic twice, and both times he wasn’t there. Or so I’ve been told. He’s not answering my text messages either.”
Leia sighs and lies down on her bed, next to me. “Babe, what are you even doing? He told you that you two can’t be together. He literally told you that your psycho grandfather holds his future in his hands. What are you doing?”
I grab her pink teddy bear and wrap my arms around it, feeling torn. “I don’t know, Leia… I just really like him. I’ve never felt anything like this before. I swear I’m not playing any games, it’s not a thrill or whatever you think it is. It’s not that at all. I just… when I’m with him I’m happy, and I think he feels the same way.”
She looks into my eyes and nods. “Yeah, I’ve never seen you this crazy about anyone. Is it worth it, though?”
“I don’t know,” I tell her honestly. “Grandpa seems to be grooming him to take on quite a sizable portion of my family’s portfolio, so he clearly values Noah.”
Leia stares me down and purses her lips. “But does he value Noah enough to let you be with him? From what you told me, it doesn’t sound like your grandfather will let you walk down the same road that your mother chose. Noah might be a doctor, and he might be wonderful, but compared to your family, he’s still just a normal man. He still has student debt and probably lives paycheck to paycheck.”
Dr. Grant (Off-Limits) Page 10